I hope this is the correct forum to place this question. I want to make some steel hanging targets and I am looking for advice from people that have made some before. They would be for 100 yards with XM-193, Q3131A or Wolf. I have access to any thickness of plate steel from 1/4"-3". I can have whatever diameter or shape discs I want flame cut, I just have to pay our cost on the steel. I would like to have plates that can be used for a while, read that as not penetrated. I also have access to some cold rolled .160 material that we no longer use that I could probably get very cheaply, but these would have to disposable. So my questions are:
1. What is the best thickness, for it not to be penetrated, yet to still visibly react to a hit?
2. What is a reasonable diameter(s) for 100 yards? I know this varies with the skill of the shooter, sights/optics being used and so on. I want to make it easy enough for my 9 year old son to hit. If I could make one or two standard diameters, one fairly easy and one more challenging I might be able to make a limited run of plates so that I can make a few complete sets.
3. What is the best way to hang them? I see three different way:
A. Wood (2x4) frame with the plates hanging from 10-12 gauge wire.
B. Plates welded to angle iron arm welded to short length of pipe, which passes through wood dowel rod and is free to rotate. This would be supported by a wooden frame.
C. Same targets as above hanging from pipe fabricated from steel pipe (3/4" sched 40).
Thanks for your help, Andy